VOLUME 99
ISSUE 3
TIMES
FALLON County
fctimes@midrivers.com 406-778-3344
BAKER, MONTANA 59313
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Debate continues on Keystone XL pipeline By Lori Kesinger The Senate advanced legislation Jan. 12 to approve the Keystone XL pipeline despite President Obama declaring he would veto it. The Senate voted 63-32 to clear a major hurdle and begin debate on the bill. The Senate lacked the two-thirds majority vote needed to overcome a veto should Obama follow through with his threat. The House passed the bill last week with a vote of 266-153, also short the 290 votes needed to clear a veto. The proposed pipeline is a system to transport crude oil from the oil sands of Alberta, Canada and the northern U.S. to refineries near the Gulf of Mexico. An on-ramp called the Bakken MarketLink will intersect with the pipeline at Baker providing a terminal to export oil being produced from the Bakken formation. Most of the Bakken oil is currently being transported by tanker or railcar. Obama is under pressure from both sides of the pipeline debate after a Nebraska court dismissed the challenge made by landowners. The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld Keystone’s proposed path and returned the fate of the project to the White House. Obama stated the Nebraska case was the main reason why he plans to veto legislation approving the pipeline. The State Department hasn’t issued a final recommendation on the pipeline either. The department suspended all review of the project when the Nebraska lawsuit was filed last year. “Our posture and our position hasn’t changed. This is a process that is still underway at the State Department,” White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters Jan. 9. “I don’t have any updates for you on that process. As you know, it’s undergoing rigorous review and we’re going to wait for that review to be concluded before the President makes any decisions.” “The President believes that the process should unfold at the State Department and that any legislative end-run around that process is misguided, and he will veto that bill,” Schultz further stated. The administration has given no timeline on when the State Department might finish its final review. Proponents say the pipeline will create jobs, increase tax revenue, and gain energy independence for the United States. Sen. Jon Tester, Sen. Steve Daines, and Rep. Ryan Zinke all support the pipeline project for Montana. “This legislation is exactly the kind of commonsense solution that Montanans want to see,” Daines said. “It has broad bipartisan support, it’s environmentally sound, it creates jobs, and it helps move us toward energy independence. I look forward to passing it out of the Senate and giving President Obama the opportunity to finally approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline after six years of political games and gridlock.”
Gas prices keep falling By Lori Kesinger The good news keeps coming for consumers as gas prices keep falling. Oil prices fell another five percent to near six year lows on Jan. 12. The national average has dropped a record 109 consecutive days for $1.18 less than one year ago. Baker gas prices average $2.24 per gallon for unleaded. AAA expects the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline to remain below $3.00 per gallon in 2015. The dramatic reduction in retail gas prices has been driven by plummeting global crude oil prices since last summer. The decline in the price of oil has been caused by weak demand and abundant supply. Since 2010, oil prices have been around $100 per barrel because of increased oil consumption in some countries and conflicts in key oil nations. The high prices prompted US and Canadian companies to start drilling for crude in North Dakota’s shale formations and Alberta’s oil sands. The demand for oil in Europe, Asia, and the US began to taper off due to weakened economies and other measures. Iraq began producing more oil. This all created the lower demand and higher supply. Oil prices started falling last September and observers waited to see whether OPEC would cut back on its production to boost prices, but they did nothing. Saudi Arabia did not do anything either and oil prices started dropping. The oil price decline is upending the global economy. Low prices are excellent for oil consumers in the US where gas prices are the lowest they have been in years. For nations reliant on oil sales - it’s bad news. Experts believe the lower price of gas could stimulate the US economy to trend upward. People have more money to buy other things instead of spending it at the gas pump.
Russell’s Clothing Baker, MT 406-778-2427
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015
Contacting your congressional delegation The 114th Congress convened Jan. 6 addressing key issues including terrorismrisk insurance, liability for oil spills, homeland security budget, amendments on immigration policy, and the Keystone XL pipeline. With 247 seats in the House of Representatives and 54 seats in the Senate, this congress has the largest Senator Steve Daines Republican majority since the 71st Congress. Contact Montana congressional delegation at: US Senator Steve Daines, Republican Washington, DC Office 1 Russell Senate Courtyard Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202-224-2651 Fax: 202-224-9412 stevedaines.com US Senator Jon Tester, Democrat Washington, DC Office 724 Hart Senate Building Washington, DC 20510-2604 Phone: 202-224-2644 Fax: 202-224-8594 tester.senate.gov US Representative Ryan Zinke, Republican 113 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-3211 Fax: 202-225-5768 zinke.house.gov
Senator Jon Tester
Representative Ryan Zinke
Premature twins born 21 days apart a miracle By Lori Kesinger They are being called “our miracle Uecker babies”. Aaron Uecker and Rachael Geehan of Columbus had twins born prematurely 21 days apart. Lincoln was the first one born on Sept. 24, weighing one pound four ounces, and Eleanor was born Oct. 15 at two pounds and one ounce. The babies have been at a Denver hospital due to complications of being born early. Overcoming numerous ob-
“OUR MIRACLE UECKER BABIES” stacles, they may possibly go home in the next few weeks. The actual due date of the twins was Jan. 15. Lincoln currently weighs six pounds seven ounces, and Eleanor weighs six pounds one ounce. Rachael has been at the hospital with Rachael Geehan, Aaron Uecker and babies, Eleanor and Lincoln. the babies for the past four months while Aaron works two weeks on and four days Uecker of Baker and Patrick Geehan of Washington and Dianne off. His days off he spends at the hospital and will be with them Geehan and stepdad Jeffrey Parker of Columbus. during Eleanor’s hernia surgery scheduled for Jan. 15. For updates on the twins, visit “Our Miracle Uecker Babies” Aaron is a native of Baker. Grandparents are Kelly and Brenda Facebook page.
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